Rental car insurance
What you're arriving with, what the gaps are, and how to decide.
The rental counter offers four insurance products. Most travellers already have coverage for at least one of them through a credit card or personal auto policy — and most don't know exactly which one, or where it falls short. These guides map what you're arriving with before you get there.
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Does My Credit Card Cover Rental Car Insurance?
Most travel cards include a collision damage waiver — but the liability gap and the primary vs. secondary distinction are what actually determine whether your card helps.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): What It Covers and When to Buy It
CDW is the most consequential add-on at the rental counter. Here's what it covers, what it excludes, what voids it, and when buying it makes sense versus relying on coverage you already have.
Chase Sapphire Rental Car Insurance: What It Actually Covers
Both Sapphire cards provide primary CDW coverage worldwide. Here's exactly what's covered, where the gaps are, and the three steps to activate the benefit before you reach the counter.
Amex Rental Car Insurance: Which Cards Have It and What It Covers
Most Amex cards include secondary CDW coverage — but the $695 Platinum doesn't include primary. Here's how the standard benefit works, when PCRP makes sense, and which countries are excluded.
Should I Buy Rental Car Insurance?
Three questions determine your answer: your personal auto coverage, your credit card benefit, and where you're renting. Work through them before you reach the counter.